Frailty: how early interventions at home can benefit older people

Community and social care nurses have a vital role to play in helping older people with frailty remain independent and mobile, and reduce hospital admissions

• Early intervention can be in the form of relatively simple solutions to practical problems and can also free up hospital capacity
• Such approaches have been implemented across settings, with frailty clinics now attached to some emergency departments
• Tips for nurses helping patients with frailty include promoting independence, keeping people mobile and explaining prevention tools

With a rapidly ageing population set to put an ever-increasing strain on the UK’s health and social care services in the coming years, reducing the number of preventable hospitalisations is essential.